Research Scientist, Computational Social Science (PhD)

$117,000 - $173,000/Yr

Meta - Menlo Park, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Menlo Park, CA

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About the position

Meta is seeking a Research Scientist to join the Computational Social Science team. This role is pivotal in understanding and improving Meta's impact on significant societal issues, including fostering healthy connections and communities, enhancing social cohesion, addressing youth experiences, promoting civic discourse, and examining topics such as elections, democracy, institutional trust, economic opportunity, and inequality. The Computational Social Science team is dedicated to tackling these complex research problems at scale, employing advanced quantitative and computational methods to derive insights that can inform Meta's strategies and initiatives. As a Research Scientist, you will conduct research that leverages cutting-edge computational and quantitative methods to advance the scientific understanding of Meta's societal impact. This involves working with large datasets to extract actionable insights and communicate complex technical topics to diverse audiences. You will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, including other scientists, engineers, UX researchers, and product managers, to achieve complex objectives. Your work will not only contribute to empirical research but also help shape the future of social technology by providing data-driven solutions to pressing societal challenges.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research using computational and quantitative methods to understand Meta's societal impact.
• Analyze large datasets to derive actionable insights and conclusions.
• Communicate complex technical topics to diverse audiences effectively.
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers, UX researchers, and product managers on complex tasks.
• Utilize statistical methods and machine learning techniques to solve analytical problems.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in a relevant field.
• Fluency with statistical methods and computational approaches, including machine learning and social network analysis.
• Experience manipulating and analyzing complex, high-volume data from various sources.
• Strong background in empirical research and data-driven problem solving.
• Proficiency in data analysis languages such as R or Python.
• Familiarity with relational databases and SQL.
• Fluency with statistical inference techniques.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in solving complex problems and evaluating alternative solutions.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively in a cross-functional team environment.
• Demonstrated research and software engineering experience through internships or contributions to open source projects.

Benefits

• Competitive hourly wage of $56.25, with potential annual salary up to $173,000 plus bonuses and equity.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth within the company.